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Abstract

The sensitivities of resonant wavelengths of photonic crystal (PhC) membrane nanocavities with embedded InAs quantum dots to the ambient refractive index are reported for use in (bio) chemical sensing. The resonances for the different modes of several point-defect type cavities are obtained by photoluminescence measurements. Systematic trends of the variation of sensitivity with increase of the overlap of the modes with the PhC holes are observed for varying cavity type as well as for a given mode within a cavity type. A maximum sensitivity of ~300 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) is observed, corresponding to ~25% mode overlap with the holes and complete infiltration with the aqueous solution.

(a) Resonant wavelength change of an H1(r’,s) cavity as the sugar concentration in the sugar-water solution increases. (b) 3D FDTD simulation result for the three different infiltration configurations as represented by the sketches: (i) total filling, (ii) surface coverage and hole filling, and (iii) surface coverage of the sugar-water solutions.